Nikki Haley is due to announce that she is suspending her campaign to be the Republican presidential nominee after a particularly poor showing on Super Tuesday, the biggest voting day ahead of the US general election.
Her rival Donald Trump, who has been polling ahead of any contender since before the race started, won 14 states but lost Vermont to Haley. Trump won comfortably in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
Haley’s spokeswoman said: “Today, in state after state, there remains a large block of Republican primary voters who are expressing deep concerns about Donald Trump. That is not the unity our party needs for success.” That large block is made up of suburban women and floating voters whom Haley is popular with.
President Joe Biden had a strong performance, winning in 14 states but losing in the overseas territory of Samoa. Biden won in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia.
VP Kamala Harris attempted to use the results from Super Tuesday to galvanise the Democratic vote, many of whom are sceptical of President Biden’s mental acuity and worried about his age. Harris said this was “an energising moment” for her party’s campaign and that Trump must be stopped.
“Americans of all backgrounds are showing that they sense the urgency of this election, and that they are ready to stand with President Biden and me in this fight to protect our fundamental freedoms. The president and I know re-election must be earned, and we will continue to put in the work to reach every possible voter. Winning the fight to protect our fundamental freedoms will require nothing less.”
Speaking to his supporters outside his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump accused Joe Biden of being the worst president in American history.
Trump said: “He is driven by grievance and grift, focused on his own revenge and retribution, not the American people. He is determined to destroy our democracy, rip away fundamental freedoms like the ability for women to make their own healthcare decisions, and pass another round of billions of dollars in tax cuts for the wealthy – and he’ll do or say anything to put himself in power.”
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